UK decides Vote Leave group will lead 'out of EU' campaign

LONDON – Britain's electoral commission has decided the Vote Leave group will be designated as the standard bearer for those pushing for Britain's exit from the 28-nation European Union in a June 23 referendum.

Vote Leave had battled with rival Grassroots Out for the right to take the lead in arguing for Britain's exit from the EU. The commission said Wednesday that Vote Leave had "structures in place," to represent the views of those choosing an EU exit.

Vote Leave can now spend up to 7 million pounds ($10 million) and receive free television broadcasts.

Vote Leave is supported by prominent Conservative Euroskeptics like London Mayor Boris Johnson. Grassroots Out is an umbrella group whose main component is Leave.EU, founded by Arron Banks, a backer of the anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party.